Abstract
This study aimed to determine the farm practices related to duck egg production as well as assess the safety of duck eggs for human consumption. Specifically, it aimed to 1) describe farm practices related to duck egg production in the Province of Laguna.; 2) determine the volume of egg production and its geographic flow; and 3) assess the safety of the duck eggs for human consumption in terms of its lead (Pb) content by comparing it with the maximum tolerable daily intake of Pb set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results showed that the number of ducks raised ranged from 800 to 45,000 heads. Each farm had their own way of feeding ducks except for the use of snails as feeds that is common to all. In addition to snails, a mixture of commercial feeds, desiccated coconut (sapal) and fine rice particles (binlid) were given as feeds. A special “all natural diet” with probiotics was used as feeds in the sample farm in Victoria as feeds. The lead concentrations of raw duck eggs from the three farms were 0.20 mg/kg Fresh Weight (FW), 0.22 mg/kg FW and 0.20 mg/kg FW for samples A (Los Banos), B (Bay) and C (Victoria), respectively with a mean Pb content of 0.21 mg/kg FW. Also, the mean Pb content of duck eggs analyzed is far higher than the mean Pb content of eggs in developed countries (0.02 mg/kg) as well as with the Pb content of water spinach that were grown near the domestic areas alongside Laguna de Bay (0.02 mg/kg FW). Furthermore, it is found to be within the recommended maximum concentration of Pb in solid food, that is, 6 mg/kg. Using the maximum tolerable daily intake of Pb for adult set by the WHO (2001) which is 0.21 mg/kgBW as reference, developing Pb toxicity from the intake of duck eggs over a short period of time is therefore impossible. Nonetheless, heavy metals like Pb can accumulate in the body when consumed over a long period of time and pose health hazards. As a conclusion, the presence of Pb in duck egg may cause health hazards when taken in excess amounts over a long period of time. Further studies on safety of duck egg for human consumption as well as health risk assessment are recommended as basis for development of policies related to human health and environment.
Highlights
Duck raising is one of the profitable livestock industries in the Philippines
Details of farm practices on duck raising, processing and marketing of eggs and other duck-based products in Laguna Lake areas were determined in the study
Using the maximum tolerable daily intake of Pb for adult set by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is 0.21 mg/kgBW as reference, it can be considered that developing Pb toxicity from the intake of duck eggs over a short period of time is highly impossible [19]
Summary
Because of its eggs such as balut and salted eggs with its nutritive value, delicious flavor and affordable price makes it one of the delicacies for Filipinos. Most of these duck raising industries are along the shoreline of Laguna de Bay because of the abundant fresh water supply and fresh water snails that serve as food for the ducks. The salted eggs and balut industry may be found in the province of Laguna. Most of these are in the municipalities that lie along the coastline of Laguna de Bay
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